Playing totally different a week later its loss to Bilbao this time Basketball club Nizhny Novgorod won a prominent home victory 81:65 at the fourth tour of the Eurocup Last 32. It was an important victory in terms of the team's standings: two tours before the second group stage BCNN has good chance to enter the playoff.
Zoran Lukic/head coach BCNN:
We had a confident win over the very experienced team. It was the very experience that did not let Nizhny Novgorod to win back the 26 points difference. But we have to say that due to Luke Babbitt's voluntary leave for the USA. Fortunately life doesn't stop here, so we move on. And I'd like to thank the guys for their willingness and dedication that led to this important victory over the strong opposition.
Rafael Pueyo Mena/head coach Bilbao:
We started the game pretty well. During the first quarter my players controlled the game till 10:11. But then the hosts added good shots that put them forward. We were obviously weak in defence and in shooting. Last time we won with big advantage, this time were stronger. It proves that the long trip could be really tiresome and affects the result. On the other hand we have secured the score difference and it means everything is still under control.
«Nizhny Novgorod» - «Bilbao»: 81 — 65 (18 — 11, 25 — 15, 25 — 22, 13 - 17)
«BCNN»: Rochestie (18 pts + 6 assists), Panin (15 + 5 rebounds), Korobkov (11 + 5 rebounds), Thompson (10 + 6 rebounds), Antonov (8 + 8 rebounds), Gubanov (7), Khvostov (6), Paul (2), Savelyev (2), Ivlev (2), Baburin - did not play.
«Bilbao»: Gabriel (12 + 6 reb.), Markota (11 + 7 reb.), Mumbru (10)
BC Nizhny Novgorod signed a one-year deal with Canadian bigman Sean Denison (211 cm, 111 kg, 32 y.o.). Last season he spent in Romanian CSM Oradea, participating in the national championship and Basketball Champions League. From 2011 till 2013 he played in Russian clubs Spartak-Primorye and Ataman.
Nizhny Novgorod terminated the contract with American forward Erik McCree who’d joined the team this august. The decision was made by mutual agreement. At the moment Nizhny is in search of a new player for the vacant place.
BC NN signed a two-year contract with American forward Erik McCree (23 y.o., 203 cm, 102 kg). From 2013 to 2017 he was playing for Louisiana Tech in NCAA. Last season he showed his best statistics averaging 17,7 points, 8,9 rebounds, 1,3 assists in 33 games.
BC NN signed a two-year deal with American point guard Sterling Gibbs (188cm, 84kg, 24 y.o). In his college years he played for Seton Hall Pirates and Connecticut Huskies in NCAA. In 2016-2017 spent his first season overseas as he joined Hungarian team Kormend. He helped the team to semifinals in Hungarian Cup and Hungarian League averaging 14,4 points, 2,1 rebounds, 3,3 assists in 27 games.
